Metabolic Patterns (NAD(P)H) in Rat Basophilic Leukemia (RBL-2H3) Cells and Human Hepatocellular Carcinoma (Hep G2) Cells with Autofluorescence Imaging

Although the spatial and temporal distributions of cellular NAD(P)H concentrations have been theoretically predicted as typical patterns of the metabolism in living cells, so far such a pattern was observed only in neutrophils. In this work, the dynamic NAD(P)H distributions in rat basophilic leukemia (RBL-2H3) and human hepatocellular carcinoma (Hep G2) cells were studied by imaging the autofluorescence of cellular NAD(P)H with a sensitive CCD detector in a confocal microscope. The typical pattern of the cytoplasmic NAD(P)H wave traveling along the long axis of the elongated cell with a velocity of 2.2±0.6?μm/s was detected in RBL-2H3 cells. While in the case of Hep G2 cells, only the oscillation of the mitochondrial NAD(P)H was observed because the NAD(P)H mainly localized in mitochondria of Hep G2 cells. These results confirm the metabolic pattern of NAD(P)H in living cells and suggest that the expression of the metabolic pattern probably differs in different cell lines.     

Rotator cuff strength is not augmented by blood flow restriction training

ObjectiveBlood flow restriction (BFR) training utilizes a tourniquet applied to the upper or lower extremities (UE or LE) to occlude blood flow while exercising. BFR training may help augment strength in muscles that are proximal to BFR cuff application. However, prior studies have failed to demonstrate augmented strength gains in the rotator cuff when the tourniquet is applied to the UE. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if a protocol consisting of LE exercises, performed with BFR, followed by rotator cuff exercises was superior in augmenting strength, and cross-sectional area (CSA) of the rectus femoris, in untrained subjects when compared to a non-BFR training group.DesignRandomized controlled trial.SettingUniversity.ParticipantsThirty-five subjects (mean age 25.8 ± 1.6 y) randomized to a BFR or non-BFR group.Main outcome measuresMuscular strength measured via hand held dynamometer and the CSA of the dominant rectus femoris was measured by diagnostic ultrasound.ResultsBoth groups experienced significant gains in LE and rotator cuff strength. Strength increased in the BFR group by 11.6% for the supraspinatus, 34.1% for shoulder ER, 23.4% for the quadriceps, and 17.1% for the hamstrings. Strength increased in the non-BFR group by 7.3% for the supraspinatus, 20% for shoulder ER, 12.8% for the quadriceps, and 10.7% for the hamstrings. However, there were no differences in strength gains between groups. Neither group experienced a significant increase in CSA for the rectus femoris.ConclusionThe BFR protocol used in this study did not augment strength for the rotator cuff in subjects who also performed LE exercises under occlusion.     

Frontotemporal Regulation of Subjective Value to Suppress Impulsivity in Intertemporal Choices

Impulsive decisions arise from preferring smaller but sooner rewards compared with larger but later rewards. How neural activity and attention to choice alternatives contribute to reward decisions during temporal discounting is not clear. Here we probed (1) attention to and (2) neural representation of delay and reward information in humans (both sexes) engaged in choices. We studied behavioral and frequency-specific dynamics supporting impulsive decisions on a fine-grained temporal scale using eye tracking and MEG recordings. In one condition, participants had to decide for themselves but pretended to decide for their best friend in a second prosocial condition, which required perspective taking. Hence, conditions varied in the value for themselves versus that pretending to choose for another person. Stronger impulsivity was reliably found across three independent groups for prosocial decisions. Eye tracking revealed a systematic shift of attention from the delay to the reward information and differences in eye tracking between conditions predicted differences in discounting. High-frequency activity (175-250 Hz) distributed over right frontotemporal sensors correlated with delay and reward information in consecutive temporal intervals for high value decisions for oneself but not the friend. Collectively, the results imply that the high-frequency activity recorded over frontotemporal MEG sensors plays a critical role in choice option integration.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Humans face decisions between sooner smaller rewards and larger later rewards daily. An objective benefit of losing weight over a longer time might be devalued in face of ice cream because they prefer currently available options because of insufficiently considering long-term alternatives. The degree of contribution of neural representation and attention to choice alternatives is not clear. We investigated correlates of such decisions in participants deciding for themselves or pretending to choose for a friend. Behaviorally participants discounted less in self-choices compared with the prosocial condition. Eye movement and MEG recordings revealed how participants represent choice options most evident for options with high subjective value. These results advance our understanding of neural mechanisms underlying decision-making in humans.     

Optimal timing and safety of the external ventricular drainage in patients with high-grade aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage treated with endovascular coiling

The presented retrospective analysis has evaluated the optimal timing and safety of external ventricular drainage (EVD) for acute hydrocephalus after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). The study cohort comprised 102 patients, 49 of whom underwent EVD at 3–120 h (mean, 16 h) after the clinical onset of aSAH, either before (N = 27) or after (N = 22) ruptured aneurysm coiling. Among those treated with EVD, favorable and fair outcomes at discharge (modified Rankin Scale [mRS] scores 0–3) were noted in 14 (29%) and unfavorable (mRS scores 4–6) in 35 (71%). The former was more common among women (P = 0.019) and patients without chronic arterial hypertension (P = 0.028). The cut-off value for optimal timing of EVD was defined at 13 h after the onset of aSAH. Favorable and fair outcomes were more frequent after early (≤13 h; N = 30) than late (>13 h; N = 19) EVD (40% vs. 11%; P = 0.026), whereas did not differ significantly between those in whom such procedure was done before or after ruptured aneurysm coiling (19% vs. 41%; P = 0.083). In the entire study cohort, 2 patients had re-rupture of the aneurysm, and while both of them were treated with EVD, neither case of complication was directly associated with the procedure and, in fact, preceded it. In conclusion, EVD for management of acute hydrocephalus in patients with high-grade aSAH should be preferably applied within 13 h after the clinical onset of stroke, which may be considered sufficiently safe regardless whether it is performed before or after ruptured aneurysm coiling.     

Altered modulation of gamma oscillation frequency by speed of visual motion in children with autism spectrum disorders

Background

Recent studies link autism spectrum disorders (ASD) with an altered balance between excitation and inhibition (E/I balance) in cortical networks. The brain oscillations in high gamma-band (50–120 Hz) are sensitive to the E/I balance and may appear useful biomarkers of certain ASD subtypes. The frequency of gamma oscillations is mediated by level of excitation of the fast-spiking inhibitory basket cells recruited by increasing strength of excitatory input. Therefore, the experimental manipulations affecting gamma frequency may throw light on inhibitory networks dysfunction in ASD.

Methods

Here, we used magnetoencephalography (MEG) to investigate modulation of visual gamma oscillation frequency by speed of drifting annular gratings (1.2, 3.6, 6.0 °/s) in 21 boys with ASD and 26 typically developing boys aged 7–15 years. Multitaper method was used for analysis of spectra of gamma power change upon stimulus presentation and permutation test was applied for statistical comparisons. We also assessed in our participants visual orientation discrimination thresholds, which are thought to depend on excitability of inhibitory networks in the visual cortex.

Results

Although frequency of the oscillatory gamma response increased with increasing velocity of visual motion in both groups of participants, the velocity effect was reduced in a substantial proportion of children with ASD. The range of velocity-related gamma frequency modulation correlated inversely with the ability to discriminate oblique line orientation in the ASD group, while no such correlation has been observed in the group of typically developing participants.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that abnormal velocity-related gamma frequency modulation in ASD may constitute a potential biomarker for reduced excitability of fast-spiking inhibitory neurons in a subset of children with ASD.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s11689-015-9121-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

高频超声诊断甲状腺结节的多因素分析及病例对照研究

目的采用高频超声对甲状腺结节的多因素进行诊断分析,并对其病例进行对照研究,为甲状腺结节的准确诊断提供可靠的方法。方法通过整体随机抽样的方法,对某地区的居民进行问卷调查、甲状腺的高频超声和尿碘值的检测;将高频超声检测结果甲状腺结节为阳性的和甲状腺没有病变的群体按照年龄、性别、职业和城乡的区别配比,分为两组,每组400例,对两个组别进行病例对照研究;对研究结果进行单因素和多因素的Logistic回归分析相关的危险因素。结果结合单因素和多因素分析,结果显示甲状腺结节的保护因素和患者的年收入相关,年收入越高的患甲状腺结节的概率越低,有吸烟史的患甲状腺结节的概率越高,检测分析甲状腺结节患病率低的尿碘值一般在100~190μg/L(P0.05)。结论通过高频超声对甲状腺结节的患者进行单一因素和多因素对比分析,结果发现饮食习惯和使用的碘量和甲状腺结节的发生率有一定的相关性,尿碘值的高低也影响着甲状腺结节的发生率。高频超声在诊断甲状腺结节方面起着一定的作用,可以作为临床诊断甲状腺结节推广使用。     

Gleason stratifications prognostic for survival in men receiving definitive external beam radiation therapy for localized prostate cancer

PurposeHistologic grade analyses for prostate cancer (PCa) have traditionally included Gleason scores (GS) of ≤6, 7, and 8-10. Stratified biochemical progression-free survival has increasingly been reported within these groups on analyses of primary-secondary patterns (PSPs) (e.g., 3+4 vs. 4+3) and overall GS (e.g., 8 vs. 9 vs. 10) but with limited data regarding stratified survival outcomes. In this analysis, outcomes for biopsy-assigned GS 6 to 10 were comprehensively evaluated to identify stratifications prognostic for survival in patients undergoing external beam radiation therapy (EBRT).MethodsThe Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database was examined for T1–4 N0 M0, GS 6 to 10 PCa managed with EBRT alone from 2004 to 2006. GS and PSP variations were analyzed for PCa-specific survival (PCSS) and overall survival (OS).ResultsOverall, 26,885 patients were evaluated. Preliminary PSP analyses identified stratifications for 3+4 vs. 4+3 = 7 and 4+4 = 8 vs. GS 8 with pattern 5 (P5) (i.e., 3+5 and 5+3) as significant; however, no differences were observed for 4+5 vs. 5+4 = 9. The primary analysis included stratifications for GS 6, 3+4, 4+3, 4+4, 8 w/P5, 9, and 10, where the 7.5-year PCSS rates were 99%, 97%, 95%, 91%, 86%, 81%, and 78% and 7.5-year OS rates were 83%, 76%, 72%, 67%, 66%, 58%, and 54%, respectively. PCSS differences for sequential score increases were all significant on univariate analyses (all P<0.05). In sequential multivariate analyses of PCSS accounting for age, prostate-specific antigen, T stage, year, marital status, race, and tumor registry, the identified GS stratifications remained significant (all P<0.05), with the exception of GS 8 w/P5 vs. 9 (P = 0.11). In overall multivariate analyses, the identified GS stratifications represented the strongest prognostic factor for survival. Subgroup analyses demonstrated that presence of any P5 was an independent prognostic factor for survival.ConclusionIn the largest reported survival analysis of Gleason stratifications, biopsy-assigned GS 6, 3+4, 4+3, 4+4, 8 w/P5, 9, and 10 represented sequential prognostic factors for survival in patients managed with definitive EBRT.     

不同手术方式治疗儿童肱骨近端骨折的临床观察

目的 比较切开复位克氏针内固定和切开复位外固定架治疗儿童肱骨近端骨折的效果.方法 2010年10月至2013年8月南阳市中心医院小儿外科行克氏针和外同定架治疗的肱骨近端骨折的患儿62例.其中克氏针内固定组患儿40例,外固定架组22例.比较两种手术方式的临床效果.结果 两组患儿手术时间[(40.3±7.2)min比62.3±6.7)min]、手术出血量[(28.9±14.5)ml比(71.7±17.5) ml]、切口长度[(32.4±11.3) cm比(63.3±13.2) cm]和术后肩关节Neer评分[(96.8±9.8)分比(92.3±8.5)分]等方面外固定架组要优于克氏针组,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).而在住院时间、骨折愈合时间和术后并发症方面差异无统计学意义(P＞0.05).结论 对儿童肱骨近端骨折,切开或闭合复位外固定架治疗,手术操作简单易行,对干骺端损伤小,固定可靠利于早期功能锻炼,对术后上肢功能的恢复具有良好的效果.